Scott and Laura Smith’s Fhior Garden Café to close

The Fhior Garden Café at the Secret Herb Garden in Edinburgh, run by Fhior restaurant owners Scott and Laura Smith, is closing at the end of this month due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions over the last year.

A new operator is understood to already be in place to take over the space and will also be taking on the team.

Posting on Twitter, the Scotts said: “The original vision has been twisted, distorted and changed more times than we can count with all the restrictions placed on it, pretty much from when we opened the doors.

“We feel that right now, finally, the amazing team there have really begun to establish its identity, build a great reputation, and create a special little place to enjoy simple food with all the correct ethos. Unfortunately though, this has come too late to recover from the past year, and other factors in play have meant it has become not possible for us to continue.

“We are devastated. More so, we are heartbroken for our team there. They are the ones who have continually adapted to the changing conditions, and they have done it with energy and positivity. What they have moulded that space to become is something we are very proud of, and we are so grateful to them.”

The Smiths signed the contract to take over the café lease in early February and had planned to relaunch it the week the country went into lockdown in March.